scholarly journals Natural Product Nitric Oxide Chemistry: New Activity of Old Medicines

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Jiang ◽  
Ashley C. Torregrossa ◽  
Deepa K. Parthasarathy ◽  
Nathan S. Bryan

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as a therapy and preventative care measure for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) may prove to be beneficial when used in conjunction with or in place of conventional medicine. However, the lack of understanding of a mechanism of action of many CAMs limits their use and acceptance in western medicine. We have recently recognized and characterized specific nitric oxide (NO) activity of select alternative and herbal medicines that may account for many of their reported health benefits. The ability of certain CAM to restore NO homeostasis both through enhancing endothelial production of NO and by providing a system for reducing nitrate and nitrite to NO as a compensatory pathway for repleting NO bioavailability may prove to be a safe and cost-effective strategy for combating CVD. We will review the current state of science behind NO activity of herbal medicines and their effects on CVD.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 502-515
Author(s):  
Jayasimha R. Daddam ◽  
Basha Sreenivasulu ◽  
Katike Umamahesh ◽  
Kotha Peddanna ◽  
Dowlathabad M. Rao

Background: Alternative medicine is available for those diseases which cannot be treated by conventional medicine. Ayurveda and herbal medicines are important alternative methods in which the treatment is done with extracts of different medicinal plants. This work is concerned with the evaluation of anti-stress bioactive compounds from the ethanolic root extract of Hemidesmus indicus. Methods: Gas chromatography and Mass Spectrum studies are used to identify the compounds present in the ethanolic extract based on the retention time, area. In order to perform docking studies, Vasopressin model is generated using modeling by Modeller 9v7. Vasopressin structure is developed based on the crystal structure of neurophysin-oxytocin from Bos taurus (PDB ID: 1NPO_A) collected from the PDB data bank. Using molecular dynamics simulation methods, the final predicted structure is obtained and further analyzed by verifying 3D and PROCHECK programs, confirmed that the final model is reliable. The identified compounds are docked to vasopressin for the prediction of anti-stress activity using GOLD 3.0.1 software. Results: The predicted model of Vasopressin structure is stabilized and confirmed that it is a reliable structure for docking studies. The results indicated ARG4, THR7, ASP9, ASP26, ALA32, ALA 80 in Vasopressin are important determinant residues in binding as they have strong hydrogen bonding with phytocompounds. Among the 21 phytocompounds identified and docked, molecule Deoxiinositol, pentakis- O-(trimethylsilyl) showed the best docking results with Vasopressin. Conclusion: The identified compounds were used for anti-stress activity by insilico method with Vasopressin which plays an important role in causing stress and hence selected for inhibitory studies with phytocompounds. The phytocompounds are inhibiting vasopressin through hydrogen bodings and are important in protein-ligand interactions. Docking results showed that out of twenty-one compounds, Deoxiinositol, pentakis-O-(trimethylsilyl) showed best docking energy to the Vasopressin.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 491-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiseok Lim ◽  
Jungho Hwang ◽  
Jeong Hoon Byeon

The utilization of catalyst waste from nitric oxide removal at thermoelectric power plants for supercapacitor fabrication is proposed; the electrochemical performance of the resultant supercapacitors is comparable to that of current state-of-the-art supercapacitor systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. e58283
Author(s):  
Clístenes Williams Araújo do Nascimento ◽  
Caroline Miranda Biondi ◽  
Fernando Bruno Vieira da Silva ◽  
Luiz Henrique Vieira Lima

Soil contamination by metals threatens both the environment and human health and hence requires remedial actions. The conventional approach of removing polluted soils and replacing them with clean soils (excavation) is very costly for low-value sites and not feasible on a large scale. In this scenario, phytoremediation emerged as a promising cost-effective and environmentally-friendly technology to render metals less bioavailable (phytostabilization) or clean up metal-polluted soils (phytoextraction). Phytostabilization has demonstrable successes in mining sites and brownfields. On the other hand, phytoextraction still has few examples of successful applications. Either by using hyperaccumulating plants or high biomass plants induced to accumulate metals through chelator addition to the soil, major phytoextraction bottlenecks remain, mainly the extended time frame to remediation and lack of revenue from the land during the process. Due to these drawbacks, phytomanagement has been proposed to provide economic, environmental, and social benefits until the contaminated site returns to productive usage. Here, we review the evolution, promises, and limitations of these phytotechnologies. Despite the lack of commercial phytoextraction operations, there have been significant advances in understanding phytotechnologies' main constraints. Further investigation on new plant species, especially in the tropics, and soil amendments can potentially provide the basis to transform phytoextraction into an operational metal clean-up technology in the future. However, at the current state of the art, phytotechnology is moving the focus from remediation technologies to pollution attenuation and palliative cares.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Xue ◽  
Timothy Churches ◽  
Elizabeth Armstrong ◽  
Rajat Mittal ◽  
Justine M. Naylor ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose: Clinical quality registries and other systems that conduct routine post-discharge surveillance of patient outcomes following surgery may have difficulty surveying patients who have limited proficiency in the language of the healthcare provider. Interpreter proxies (family and carers) are often used due to limited access to certified healthcare interpreters (due to cost or availability). The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of engaging interpreter proxies compared with certified healthcare interpreters for the administration of patient-reported health-related surveys for people with limited English proficiency (LEP). Methods: People with LEP and due for a routine 6-month telephone follow-up post knee or hip arthroplasty were invited to participate. Participants were randomly allocated to having their first interview with an interpreter proxy or a certified healthcare interpreter followed by the second (crossover) interview within 2 weeks (range: 4 to 12 days) after the first interview using the alternative method. Agreement between the two methods was assessed using quadratic weighted Cohen's kappa, intraclass correlation and concordance correlation co-efficient where appropriate for EQ-5D health domains, total Oxford hip and knee scores, patient satisfaction, operation success, readmission, reoperation, and post-surgical complication responses. The mean of the differences between the same data items collected by each of the two methods was also calculated. Results: 85 participants (96%) completed the study. There was substantial to excellent inter-rater agreement (kappa=0.69-0.87 and ICCs above 0.74) for all but one measure. The mean differences between family proxy and healthcare interpreter scores for each participant were small, ranging from 0.01 (score range of 1-5) to 0.72 (score range of 0-100). Conclusion: These results suggest that using interpreter proxies is a reliable alternative to certified healthcare interpreters in conducting patient-reported health surveys, potentially making this process easier and cost effective for researchers and registries.


2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (5) ◽  
pp. H2390-H2399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel R. Hyduke ◽  
James C. Liao

Decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is associated with a number of pathological conditions. Administration of a supplemental source of NO can counter the pathological effects arising from decreased NO bioavailability. A class of NO-nucleophile adducts that spontaneously release NO (NONOates) has been developed, and its members show promise as therapeutic sources of NO. Because the NONOates release NO spontaneously, a significant portion of the NO may be consumed by the myriad of NO reactive species present in the body. Here we develop a model to analyze the efficacy of NO delivery, by membrane-impermeable NONOates, in the resistance arterioles. Our model identifies three features of blood vessels that will enhance NONOate efficacy: 1) the amount of NO delivered to the abluminal region increases with lumen radius; 2) the presence of a flow-induced red blood cell-free zone will augment NO delivery; and 3) extravasation of the NONOate into the interstitial space will increase abluminal NO delivery. These results suggest that NONOates may be more effective in larger vessels and that NONOate efficacy can be altered by modifying permeability to the interstitial space.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Isobel Clough

Land should be one of the greatest assets of the UK healthcare system, as a result of its large estates portfolio. Howere, the current state of many of the NHS's buildings means that physical spaces are often more of a burden, with maintenance backlogs costing billions. However, as a resource-limited public institution, it is crucial that all investments into NHS infrastructure are as effective and future-proof as possible. The previous two articles in this series have focused on the potential benefits of modular facilities to healthcare staff, services and patients, drawing on case studies of NHS trusts that have implemented modular facilities on their sites. This article, the third and final instalment of this series, discusses the health economic impact of current NHS infrastructure, and explores the ways in which modular facilities could provide a flexible and cost-effective means of expanding capacity and improving services in a resource-limited environment.


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P Mason ◽  
Ruslan Kubant ◽  
Christopher Malinski ◽  
Adam Jacoby ◽  
Robert F Jacob ◽  
...  

Background: Epidemiologic studies indicate that Mexican Americans (MA) have a higher prevalence of CV risk factors and disease as compared with non-Hispanic whites (NHW). This increase in CV risk may be due, in part, to differences in endothelial function. In this study, we measured endothelial function in cells from normotensive, age-matched MA and NHW donors, as well as the effects of treatment with nebivolol, a new β 1 -selective blocker with vasodilating properties. Methods: Endothelial nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO − ) release in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from age-matched MA and NHW donors were measured simultaneously using a nanosensor array. The effects of nebivolol on NO and ONOO − release were evaluated following pretreatment (24 h) with a calcium ionophore (CaI) as a receptor-independent stimulus. Endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) levels were measured by Western blot analysis, and drug-membrane interactions were determined by small angle x-ray diffraction approaches. Results: NO bioavailability in endothelial cells of MA donors was 30% lower than that of cells from NHW donors (383 ± 10 nM versus 543 ± 8 nM, n=6) following stimulation with CaI (1.0 μM). Pretreatment with nebivolol (1.0 μM) eliminated these interracial differences and enhanced NO release disproportionately in MA cells (57%) versus NHW cells (20%). Nebivolol also reduced ONOO − levels in MA endothelium by 75% (746 ± 12 nM to 195 ± 10 nM) and by 50% in NHW cells (416 ± 7 nM to 191 ± 13 nM). The ratio of NO to ONOO − , an indicator of eNOS coupling, increased more than 5-fold in MA cells following nebivolol treatment. In addition, eNOS levels were 40% lower in MA endothelium compared to NHW, but increased 2-fold with nebivolol treatment. These effects were not observed with atenolol, a hydrophilic β 1 -selective antagonist. Conclusion: We observed differences between Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites in endothelial NO bioavailability and nitroxidative stress–factors that may contribute to increased CV risk. Treatment with nebivolol, but not atenolol, enhanced both the expression and coupling efficiency of eNOS in Mexican American endothelium.


Hypertension ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Henry H Dasinger ◽  
Suttira Intapad ◽  
Miles A Backstrom ◽  
Barbara T Alexander

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) programs hypertension and endothelial dysfunction at 4 months of age in male IUGR rat offspring compared to male control. Male IUGR offspring at 4 months of age exhibit a significant decrease in the blood pressure (BP) response to chronic NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10mg/kg/day) compared to age-matched male control. Albuminuria is also significantly reduced in L-NAME treated male IUGR relative to L-NAME treated male control suggesting that IUGR programs a reduction in bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO). Decreased NO bioavailability by endothelial dysfunction can contribute to increased BP. Age is a risk factor for hypertension and aging is associated with an increase in arterial stiffening and endothelial dysfunction. BP is similar in male IUGR relative to male control by 18 months of age. Thus, this study tested the hypothesis that age-induced reductions in NO bioavailability in the male control rat would abolish the IUGR-induced differential BP and albuminuria response to chronic L-NAME observed in male IUGR rats in young adulthood. To test this hypothesis male control and IUGR rats were treated with L-NAME or vehicle at 18 months of age. Animals underwent weekly 24 hour metabolic studies initiated prior to and during chronic L-NAME; BP was measured in conscious, chronically instrumented animals. As previously observed BP did not differ in untreated male control versus untreated male IUGR (151±4 vs. 153±4 mmHg); however, BP did not differ following chronic treatment with L-NAME in male control versus male IUGR (188±5 vs. 196±9 mmHg); control vs. IUGR, respectively. Thus, age attenuated the differential BP response to chronic L-NAME. Albumin excretion did not differ in male control versus male IUGR prior to initiation of L-NAME (81±11 vs. 96±27 mg/day) or following chronic treatment with L-NAME (127±26 vs. 107±24 mg/day); control vs. IUGR, respectively. Thus, these data suggest that IUGR programs a reduction in NO bioavailability in young adulthood implicating that IUGR programs accelerated vascular aging. Additional studies are needed to understand mechanism and facilitate the development of preventative measures against the intrauterine programming of cardiovascular risk.


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